Thomas Merton on the Twelve Steps of Humility

By: Thomas Merton

Narrated by: Thomas Merton

Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

You are invited to hear some of Thomas Merton’s most impassioned lectures.

In 1962, at Gethsemani Abbey, Thomas Merton taught an extraordinary course on the heart of Benedictine spirituality. Through 16 digitally remastered recordings, you will encounter Merton as a master teacher, his voice reaching out across the decades to make monastic wisdom accessible to all of us.

The Rule of St. Benedict is foundational in the history of Western spirituality, especially in its commentary on humility. This work of spiritual genius has guided the monastic movement since the sixth century and touched countless Christians. Merton brings new energy to this ancient document, and you will gain new insights into the rule and experience another side of Merton's personality.

The uniqueness of this series lies in how it transports you to the classroom of the monastery. You will listen to the way Merton teaches through his interaction with his students as he shares his reflections with them. You will also witness how Merton works through the material, integrating the virtue of humility into his own life.

All of us struggle with humility. In this course, you will examine what it means with a great mystic who personally struggled to live this foundational virtue. You will encounter St. Benedict, gain new insights on humility, and get to know Thomas Merton as a great teacher.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

Photograph of Thomas Merton by Sibylle Akers. Used with permission of the Merton Legacy Trust and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University.

©2012 Now You Know Media Inc. (P)2012 Now You Know Media Inc.

A Must Listen from Merton

Humility is at the core of the Rule of Saint Benedict, the monastic vocation and lay religious life as well. With this recording we’re gifted with an incredibly accessible insider’s guide to the most subtle, elusive and important aspect of religious life.

Merton gets right to the heart of what it’s all about in down-to-earth and straightforward language. Merton's audio combines the depth and wisdom of a great academic with the delivery and humor of your favorite talk show host. He's always brilliant, engaging and at times laugh-out-loud funny! It’s a totally different take than Merton in the written word and simply not to be missed. Many blessings on listening!

A "MUST" Listen

Wow! So much to digest here. I've been sharing bits of this with a men's group - and the discussion has been so edifying! This was the first time I heard Thomas Merton speak. He reminded me so much of my godly uncle - that it just added to the enjoyment. I will be adding this the my list of "books to read (listen to) every year"! Highly recommended.

EXCELLANT

LOVED. IT. SO MUCH PLEASE GET THIS YOU WILL LIKE THOMAS MERTON IS A MISTIC. BEST OF THE. REST

Great book on the virtue of humility

It was really great to hear Thomas Merton's thoughts in his own words. But it was sometimes hard to understand because he trails off at the end of some sentences. It was also VERY difficult to understand what his students were saying. I guess that's a trade off of being able to listen to recordings from the 1960s.

Deeply Inspirational!

I would have loved to have known Thomas Merton! These recordings are the next best thing. What makes it better than reading his books is that on the recordings of him teaching, it’s like entering his classroom. Hearing his voice and the way he interacts with his students feels like you’re transported back in time to the abbey sitting next to his student monks! I can’t wait to hear all of them!

a vintage recording - a unique opportunity

The opportunity to sit in on class room lectures under the expert guidance of Thomas Merton. He has a warm, generous tone with his student monks ( I almost felt like I was sitting there with them in the monastery). His perspectives of St. Benedict's rule are very helpful for the novice in pursuit of humility.

Today, it is hard to find spiritual direction

Today, it is hard to find spiritual direction that compares with Thomas Merton. In this recording, and one has to be a bit patient with the sound quality, Merton in giving direction to his novices leads us into very deep waters of our interior life. We have so many areas of our habits, thinking, and perception that need St Benedict's insight into humility. Without Merton's penetrating instruction on just how to apply this age old wisdom it would be left to the dust bin of history. Listening to Merton over and over, one can recover very practical knowledge and means to transform our disordered interior life.
I recommend this recording specifically of all Merton's works. But, be prepared to visit with his wisdom more than once to get the most clarity for application in spiritual direction.

Fascinating!

Loved hearing his actual voice (fast and smooth with a distinctive laugh) and teaching style — very engaging and focused on helping novices learn a balanced approach to try humility.

Not representative of his good awaking teachings

Thomas Merton was amazing and brought wonderful critically needed truths about spirituality and religion to the fore. This book is a taped recording of a class he taught to seminarians before he'd matured and deepened his awareness and thought. If you agree with old-time religion you'll like it. If not, this is NOT the Thomas Merton you want to read.

Interesting, but tough to follow.

There was a lot of good content but I had trouble following the whole book period just could not seem to get engaged with it.